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  • January

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 250th Logo

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Kicks Off Year Long Celebration of 250 Years of Service to the Nation

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is highlighting it 250 years of service to the nation by celebrating its birthday throughout 2025. USACE was established on June 16, 1775, when the Continental Congress authorized the first Chief Engineer to oversee the construction of fortifications and other military infrastructure.

  • April

    Bulltown Historical Association

    Bulltown Historical Association

    The BHA was founded in 2019 by a group of civil war reenactors, their families and friends, with a common goal to educate the public and promote the history of the area. In 2020, in the peak of the Corona Virus National Pandemic, they were able to join with the Burnsville Lake, US Army Corps of Engineers to form a Cooperative Association. This type of an association grants the BHA organization special privileges that allow them to operate on U.S. Army Corps of Engineer property. The BHA works hand in hand with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to preserve and enhance the Bulltown Historical Area in the community of Napier, WV, which is commonly known as Bulltown.
  • .

    Army Corps Restores National Historic Landmark at West Point, New York

    The New York District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently completed $5.2 million in renovations to Warner House ─ an iconic home on a small island in the Hudson River north of New York City with strong ties to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, a well-known engineering school, and the American Revolutionary War (1775-83).
  • Workers completed the front of the Alaska District’s headquarters at the end of June.

    Army engineers celebrate 75 years on the Last Frontier

    Seventy-five years ago today, the Chief of Engineers ordered the establishment of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Alaska District. With the stroke of a pen on General Order No. 6, the agency was born.

  • February

    The 75th Anniversary ceremony marking three-quarters century of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Japan.

    U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS CELEBRATES 75 YEARS IN JAPAN

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers celebrated 75 years of continued work in Japan with a ceremony outside their Okinawa Area Office located on Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan, Feb. 18.
  • The Oregonian recognized the Corps' efforts to save the downtown Portland area from the flooding.

    Containing the Flood of 1996

    One of the biggest floods the Portland District faced in the late 20th century occurred in February 1996 and caused millions of dollars in damage to the region. The District played a crucial role in combating this flood 's impact through a variety of short-term and long-term activities.

  • April

    70th Birthday Banner

    Fort Worth District Reflects on 70 Years of Service

    April 16, 2020 marks the 70th anniversary of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District! Thanks for visiting our website. Enjoy reading a little about our history and take a look back into the origin and some of the defining moments of the district. #ThisIsFortWorth
  • Portrait of Joseph Houston Bennet

    Joseph Houston Bennett: An American Hero and Lake Whitney Legacy

    An account of a meeting with Retired Maj. Joe Bennett, WWII fighter pilot, and employee at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District at Whitney Lake, retiring after 20 years in 1980.

  • February

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District places concrete for the first monolith on the Chickamauga Lock Replacement Project Oct. 17, 2019 on the Tennessee River in Chattanooga, Tennessee. At the Chickamauga Lock Replacement Project, aa Tennessee Valley Authority project, the Nashville District is currently executing the lock chamber contract for the new 110-foot by 600-foot navigation lock, which includes 285,000 cubic yards of reinforced concrete. A conveyer system is placing concrete inside the coffer dam from the batch plant, a distance of about 900 feet in about a minute and a half. (USACE Photo by Lee Roberts)

    Commentary: Engineers building strong legacy as pioneers of progress

    NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Feb. 26, 2020) – We just celebrated National Engineers Week and recognized Nashville District’s engineers as the region’s problem solvers, committed to serving a higher purpose, and building on a strong legacy as pioneers of progress.

  • October

    Over many years, Paul Charles Boudousquie continuously refined his 1872 reference map of Mobile Bay. For many years it served as a trusty reference for sailors navigating the bay, helping improve the economy of the region following the Civil War. (Courtesy of Boudousquie Family)

    Family Legacy of Service Stands the Test of Time

    More than 100 years after Paul Charles Boudousquié ended a 30-year career with USACE, his “magnum opus” compelled his great-grandson to learn more about his remarkable life and career as an Army Engineer. This legacy of service remains a profound inspiration for a Sacramento District employee.

  • June

    FORT NORFOLK, Va. -- War of 1812 reenactors dress in the fort's guardhouse June 9, 2012. The reenactors were part of OpSail 2012, which marked the bicentennial of the War of 1812 and brought international tall ships and naval vessels to Hampton Roads and other port cities. (U.S. Army photo/Kerry Solan)

    Fort Norfolk to host Battle of Craney Island reenactment

    Fort Norfolk will host the Battle of Craney Island anniversary reenactments 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

  • September

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers road builders at Mammoth Hot Springs, Hotel 1880s.

    100-year-old National Park Service's roots go deeper with U.S. Army

    This year, the National Park Service celebrates its 100th anniversary. Yellowstone National Park, the world’s first national park established in 1872 by President Ulysses Grant, has close ties to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The connection between the National Park Service and USACE is one that has continued through the years.

  • August

    Terry Winschel, historian for the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, uses a power washer to clean off a unique prototype military vehicle designed with “tri-star” wheels. Winschel is on a mission to preserve and restore historic prototypes tested by ERDC since the 1960s.

    Saving a history of innovation and ingenuity

    Hands-on historian works to share the story of Army Engineer R&D Standing in white coveralls, power

  • June

    Metro Savannah-area teachers join marine archaeologists, Civil War re-enactors and other specialists to learn how to integrate science, technology, engineer and math (STEM) lessons from the recovery of the ironclad CSS Georgia into their classrooms. As part of the four-day institute delivered by Georgia Tech University in Savannah, the educators visit Old Fort Jackson, the location where the under-powered warship was anchored in the early 1860s. The visit to Old Fort Jackson allowed them to learn how evolving technology impacted the soldiers and sailors at the fort and aboard the CSS Georgia. Through hands-on demonstrations, the teachers employed several basic engineering and technology actions which can be adapted to classroom instruction. They also observed underwater archaeology techniques used to locate the CSS Georgia wreck on the bottom of the Savannah River. The teachers saw first-hand the methods used to pinpoint thousands of artifacts recovered from the scuttled vessel during 2015. Leading marine archaeologist Stephen James demonstrated the sophisticated equipment used to guide divers through the zero-visibility waters of the Savannah River. The Teachers’ Institute ran from May 31 through June 3, 2016, and was funded through the community involvement portion of the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project (SHEP). The SHEP will deepen the Savannah harbor from 42 feet to 47 feet.

    Educators turn lessons learned into lesson plans

    SAVANNAH, Ga. – The school year continued for 15 educators who returned to the classroom to unearth ways to bring curriculum to life during the CSS Georgia Teacher’s Institute held May 31 – June 3 at Georgia Tech Savannah.

  • November

    FORT NORFOLK, Va. -- Fort Norfolk stands open for visitors June 1, 2012. The fort, which is maintained and preserved by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is the last remaining of 19 harbor-front forts authorized in 1794 by President George Washington. (U.S. Army photo/Patrick Bloodgood)

    Fort Norfolk to temporarily close to visitors

    Fort Norfolk will close to visitors from Nov. 12-27 as contractors perform various landscape repairs to the historic War of 1812-era coastal fortification.

  • March

    NORFOLK, Va. -- James Baird Quinn became the commander of the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in late 1899. Quinn carried out work recommended by the Endicott Board, which had evaluated coastal defenses, and oversaw improvements to the harbor at Norfolk. (U.S. Army photo)

    Norfolk 135: James B. Quinn

    James Baird Quinn; born June 9, 1843; emerged from the U.S. Military Academy as a second lieutenant in 1866, the same year President Andrew Johnson formally declared an end to the U.S. Civil War.

  • August

    NORFOLK, Va. -- Gustav J. Fiebeger became the fifth in command of what would later become the Norfolk District when he took over as officer in charge on July 1, 1890. Under his command, the Norfolk office removed the wreck of the E.L. Pettengill from a local channel, dredged the Norfolk Harbor and reported "progress" on improving the depth and width of the Appomattox River. He left the Norfolk office Nov. 20, 1891.

    Norfolk District 135: Gustav J. Fiebeger

    Fiebeger became the fifth in command of what would later become the Norfolk District when he took over as officer in charge on July 1, 1890.
  • William Price Craighill became the fourth officer in charge of what would later become the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers when he took command July 1, 1887. Craighill became the Corps' first Southeast Division Engineer and established the camp for the Yorktown surrender celebration. (U.S. Army photo)

    Norfolk District 135: William Price Craighill

    William Price Craighill was the fourth officer in charge of what would later become the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He became the Corps’ first Southeast Division Engineer, overseeing coastal fortification projects in Hampton Roads.
  • Frederick A. Hinman was the third officer in charge of what would later become the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He became the officer in charge of the United States Engineer Office in Norfolk on March 16, 1884. During that time, he improved the approach to Norfolk Harbor and the navy yard between Lambert’s Point and Fort Norfolk and cleared sunken vessels that obstructed navigation in Virginia and North Carolina. Hinman left the Norfolk office in June of 1887. (U.S. Army photo)

    Norfolk District 135: Frederick A. Hinman

    Frederick A. Hinman removed sunken vessels “obstructing or endangering navigation,” including the barge Albemarle near Hog Island lighthouse in Virginia, the schooner Maria and Elizabeth near Cape Charles lighthouse in Virginia, the schooner Tarry Not near Craney Island near the mouth of the Nansemond River, the schooner Anthea Godfrey in “Lynn Haven Roads, Virginia” [sic] (which was destroyed by explosives after having shown the wreck and cargo were valueless), and the steamer Concord, which was burned and sunk in the Pamplico River near Washington, North Carolina.

  • July

    NORFOLK, Va. -- James Mercur was the second officer in charge of what would later become the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He took command as the Engineer in Charge of the United States Engineer Office in Norfolk on June 15, 1881, after the first commander, Capt. Charles B. Phillips, died while still in command. He served at the Norfolk office until March 15, 1884, after which he returned the the military academy to teach civil and military engineering until he died in 1896. (U.S. Army photo)

    Norfolk District 135: James Mercur

    On June 15, 1881, Capt. James Mercur took command as the second engineer in charge of the Norfolk office after Capt. Charles B. Phillips, the first engineer in charge, died while still in command. He was in charge of improving the Norfolk, Virginia and Beaufort and Edenton, North Carolina harbors; Cape Fear River and Currituck Sound
  • NORFOLK, Va. -- Charles B. Phillips was the first officer in charge of what would later become the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He took command on July 1, 1879, and as the Engineer in Charge of the United States Engineer Office in Norfolk, he supervised improvements of the Norfolk Harbor and its approaches, which are known collectively today as the Port of Virginia. The Norfolk Office at that time was located in Room #2 of the Custom House in Norfolk. He died on June 14, 1881, at the age of 41, while still in command of the Norfolk office. (U.S. Army photo)

    Norfolk District 135: Charles B. Phillips

    Editor’s note: Beginning July 1, 2014, Norfolk District celebrates its 135 Anniversary. Stay with us throughout the year as we look back at our former commanders, completed projects and distinguished employees. On July 1, 1879, Capt. Charles B. Phillips became the Engineer in Charge of the United States Engineer Office in Norfolk, which was the predecessor to the Norfolk District.

  • May

    Historic Fort Norfolk, Va.

    Historic Fort Norfolk reopens ahead of schedule

    Fort Norfolk reopened to the public today, four weeks ahead of schedule, after contractors replaced the roof on the circa-1855 magazine building here.

  • December

    Master Sgt. Antonio Giuliano, U.S. Army Band vocalist, provides a stirring a cappella rendition of the Star Spangled Banner at the Sept. 18 Old Post Chapel ribbon cutting ceremony at Fort Myer, Va.

    Lincoln-era history comes back to life

    WASHINGTON, D.C. - History lives again.How would you like stand in the very courtroom where the

  • November

    ARLINGTON, Va. – The John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame sits dormant just prior to Secretary of the Army John McHugh transferring the JFK Eternal Flame back to its permanent location on Oct. 29, 2013, after repair work to the site was completed. The flame underwent a full replacement of gas and airlines, received new digital controls and sensors, as well as a new burner assembly. (U.S. Army photo/Patrick Bloodgood)

    Army Corps of Engineers: Keepers of the Flame

    ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, Va. - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers can lay claim to a vast array of famous projects since the Continental Congress authorized a “Chief Engineer for the Army” on June 16, 1775: Bunker Hill fortifications, the Panama Canal, the Manhattan Project, not to mention an abundance of locks, dams, and levees that help form the infrastructure of our nation.